davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
tiaI music; gorgeous brlgadiers in Blue and

tiaI music; gorgeous brigadiers in Blue and
gold; tall young men ln line, shining in brass
War meant to me tumultuous memories Of
Bunker Hill, Caesars Tenth legion, the charge
of the Six Hundred-anything but this
Home7 Gods country. A tearAyes, 1t is q
tear. What are theY doing at home7 This IL
Christmas Day, 1867 Home! Well, stock
ings on the wall, candy, turkey, fun, merry
Christmas, and the face Of the girl I left be-
hind. Another tear? Yes, couldn't help it;
I was only 1S, and there was such contrast
between Christmas 1862, on the Rappahan-
mock, and other Christmases. Yes, there wat
q girl, too-such sweet eyes; such long lashes;
such a low, tender voice! "Come, move
quicker! Who goes therew Shift the rifle
from one aching shoulder to the other
Hello, Johnny, what are you up toF' The
river was narrow, but deep and swift. It
was q wet cold, not q freezing cold. There
was no ice-too swift for that
"Hello, Johnny, what you coughing SO
forg"
"Yank, with no overcoat, shoes full Of
holes, nothing to eat but parched corn and
tobacco, and with the derned Yankee snow
IOOC ueep LIleTe lS LOGulu lclG-lOlilu DuV "
get up cough by way of protestin' against
this Internal treatment of the body. We uns,
Yank, all have cough over here, and there's
no sayin' which will run US to hole first, the
cough or your bullets
The snow still fell; tho keen wind, raw and
fierce, cut to the bone. 1t wcs Gods worst
weather in Gods forlornest, blcakcst spot Of
ground, that Christmas day of 'G2 on the
Rappahannock, half mile below the town
of Fredericksburg. But come, pick up your
prostrate pluck, you shivering private.
Surely there is enough dampness around
without adding to it your tears.
"Lct's laugh, boys"
"Hello, JOHNNY"
"Hello yourself, Yank"
"Merry Christmas, JOHNNY"
"Same to you, Yank!"
"Say, Johnny, got anything to trader
"Parchcd corn and tobacco-the size Of our
Christmas, Yanl."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

"Al right; you shall have some or our
coffee and sugar and pork. Boys, find the
boats.n
Such boats I see the children sailing them
on the small lakes in our Central Park. Some
Yankee, desperately hungry for tobacco, In
vented them for trading with the Johnnies.
They were hid away under the banks Of the
river for successive relays Of pickets.
We got out the boats. An old handkerchief
answered for a sail We loaded them with
coffee, sugar, pork, and set the sail, and
watched them slowly creep to the other shore.
And the Johnniesi To see them crowd the
bank, and push and scramble to be first to
seize the boets, going into the water, and
stretching out their long armsl Then when
they pulled the boats ashore, and stood in a
group over the cargo, and to hear their e1-
CARNATIONS: "Hurrah for hog!" "Say, that's
not roasted rye, but genuine coffee. Smell
it, you uns" "And sugar, too" Then they
divided tho consignment. They laughed and
shouted, "Reckon you uns been good to we
uns this Christmas Day, Yanks." Then they
put parched corn, tobacco, ripe persimmons,
into the boats, and sent them back to us.
And we chewed the parched corn, smoked
real Virginia leaf, ate persimmons, which, If
they weren't very filing, at least contracted
our stomachs to tho size Of our Christmas
dinner. And SO the day passed, We shouted,
"Merry Christmas, Johnny" They shouted,
"Same to you, Ynnk." And We forgot the
biting wind, the chilling cold; we forgot
those men over there were our enemies,
whom it might be our duty to shoot before
evening.
We had bridged the river-spanncd tho
bloody chasm. We were brothers, not foes,
waving salutations of good will in the name
of the Babe of Bethlehem, on Christmas Day,
in '62. At the very front Of the opposing
armies the Christ Child struck truce for us
broke down the we'll of partition, became
our peace. We exchanged gifts. We shouted
greetings back and forth We Kept Christ
mas, and our hearts were lighter for it and
our shivering bodies were not quite so cold
Go thou and do likewise; push no poor debtor,
prosecute no quarrel, bear no grudse, at
Christmas time; forgive your enemies, re-
member your Elercies and do not brood over
your misfortuIes, at Christmas time. If the
times ere hard do not let the children know
it, or Lazarus on your doorstep become
aware of it, at Christmas time. to his deeper
despair. Cannot you be cheerful and brave
by your fresides, as we soldiers were OH the
Rappahannock on Christmas Day in V2,
shouting good wills to rebels on tho opposite
shore? Let lis ell shake hands on Christmas
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
cease, let wrath be forgotten, let quarrels b

cease, let wrath be forgotten, let quarrels b
reconciled.
Let charity dispense bounty. Let the rich
man love the poor. Let the lap Of childhood
be filled with plenty. Let all Rappahan-
nocks Of cstrangement, separation bitter
ness, unequal lots, opposing interests, b
bridged by the Babe of Bethlehem on Christ
mas Day Of S7. And ''be ye kind one to am
other, tender hearted, forgiving one another
even as God for Clrist's sake hath forgiven
you" There, I am preaching again, in a
secular journal Of civilization. Yet can't
help it. This Christ born me has thrown on
and left behind the other me, the old me,
who followed Grant and Hancock to Rich
mond in the wild, mad days Of turbulent
youth. / have taken off that faded blue
jacket, and can stretch my arms; have un-
bucliled that worn belt, and can breathe
freely. Come, jacket; come, sword-hang
again on the wall You are my old me; but
tho present, real me is a man Of peace and
acquainted with grief; not SO happy as
saint as he was as soldier, but still trying
to do his work, since God didn't send for him
nt Gettysburg. -Harper's Weekly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
MOTHERS lIENAGERIE.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

Some sixty years ago Madison street in
New York was one of tho most aristocratic
streets in the city, and on both sides it was
built with stately stone mansions, with wide
halls, immense parlors and largo handsome
rooms, and each had garden in the rear.
Now the wealthy old Quaker families who
once inhabited them are gono and the whole
street has degenerated until it is known as
tenement house district" and these old
houses are full of ragged, half starved chill
dren; pale, wretched women, and gcncr-
ally honest but rough class of men. Every
house has family in every room, where
they eat, work and sleep, and even where
there is the most sobriety there is still enough
Of noise, unhealthiness and misery. In most
of them mems drunken curses and women
and children's sllrill screams are heard al
most hourly.
In the attic room Of one Of the handsomest
Of these old houses there lived widow with
her two children, Ruth and Robert No
words can picture the bare desolation OF that
room, but in spite Of the bitter poverty so
apparent it was neat and clean The young
mother was born in this house, as had been
her father and though she now owned
nothing on Garth but the wretched furniture
about her, and she could barely pay the rent
of this cherries attic, her heart clung to the
old house and here she staid Her father had
died suddenly, as had his father before him,
and Abby, his only child, had married q man
who was unworthy his trust and In a short
time he had dissipated every dollar they
possessed and then had died, mercifuly for
his wife and little children.
Abby Hicks had tried to earn living since
then, but with delicate health and two help
less babies she could not Go much Like the
great ma jority Of women, she had no resource
but her needle, and she found employ in
shirt factory, and by shaving night and day
as long as her poor little hands could hold the
work, she managed to keep her children and
herself alive. Their clothes wero the last OF
those of better days, and were almost falling
off them from sheer age. though the patient
little fingers had patched and darned them
over and over, and her heart sank as she
wondered where she could get more.
Her grandfather mad been thrifty old man,
and everybody had supposed him rich; but
when he dies. it was found that this house
and few thousand dollars, which was at in
terest, was oil he had, and it was never quite
understood; but no amount of searching in
papers or banks brought to light anything
more and the search was finally dropped,
though the question was often discussed
It grew too dark to sew and not quite dark
enough to light the lamp, and this hour the
little mother usually took to run out and do
her marketing for the next day; and so tell
ing the children to lie still in bed, for it was
bitterly cold up there so near the roof, she
took her threadbarc shawl, and throwing it
around her started out
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
CHRISTMAS THE HAPpieST.

Among all our holidays Christmas is the
happicst. Other d:,;:-;. i;.io tic Fourth OF
July and Decoration d.. ii@"'c y Fatr!o>a
association which i3 Inspiring, AID New
Year, D..y las a. &t.:..)s.tH:?' Significance
whir!: i; I%:;!:y:i:. Hut thr tradition OF
Chrss:;:.:. l. :inr,' i!..,.I':::l AID G,::! til:n
that of either holi!a;s. bccaHSc i! Is he least
Of fraternity. OF human sympathy and help
rulness Not only is its sentiment glory to
God, but it,; distinctive gospel is peace on
earth u..d good viii to man. Il is the ono
day in the year on which seltisliesS is tho
most odous sin. It's peculiar Observance is
oivio,s. palpahin, active thought Of others.
We all live under the general law OF charity
and of doing good. ETo this is The day on
which We mast i'tal;r sire ti;;t ,;,.' Light
shine; 81 HAT nyr si:!ll see "r% 600! H?:s.--
Iiarpcrs Weekly. ..-.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
CHRISTMAS IN OLDEN TIME.

Heap on more wood. the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will
Well keep our Christmas merry still.
And well our Christian sircs Of old
Loved, when the year its course had rolled,
And brought blithe Christmas back again,
With all its hcspitablc train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor to the holy night.
On Christmas Eve the bells were runs;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in a!l the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The danisel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
10 vassal tenant. sert and ALL
Power laid his rod Of rule cside,
And Ceremony doffed his pride;
The heir. with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The lord underogating share
The vulgar game Of "post and pair
All hail with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage. rs the crown,
Brought tidngs Of salvation down.
Sir Walter Scott
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21


By John Il. Paxton, Private, Company G, 10th
Pennsylvania Volunteers.
There was my old comrade, Sergt. Nelson,
who had gathered somewhat of evil in the
army, whose Christian virtues were not
highly polished, and who, on occasion,
dropped into profanity as Wegg did into
poetry Now I wonder which Nelson God
will keep, and which Nelson he will throw
away-the rough soldier, or the man at Cold
Harbor who said, "Boys, do you hear Bebout
and Stone calling our names and begging for
water?" We left them OF the foot Of the bill
wounded that afternoon when we charged
and were repulsed "Boys, its mighty
risky. There is no truce tonight, and them
rebs shoot about as fine by starlight as by
day. But I'm going out to them. You see,
if you and were lying over there with hole
through us and we called for water and no
one come, though you heard us, we would
curse you oil Who will go with meF' II,
sergeant" "And l." They went, and two
Of them were killed wonder which Nelson
God will keep, which throw away-the Mel
son who was no saint, or the Nelson who
died for man, like Jesus Christi
wonder which man Is me and which will
come to the front and be on top at Judgment:
this me in the study here, with an open Bible
before him, who fatty contradicts the other
me, who shivered with cold on the Kappa
hammock twenty-five years ago.
1t is such funny worldi You and load
our friends down with our aches and misfor-
tunes and troubles, but when rich old uncle
dies and leaves us half Million we do not
load that on them. Oh, no. But hero am l
preaching, SO strong is habit. Yet which Is
me-this gentle, meek, apologize clergyman,
or that other me of quarter of century
ago! that other mo who wore that faded blue
roundabout hanging on my study wall, with
ieutenapt's shoulder straps on it, who wore
that sword and belt there before my eyesa
Which is me-this man acquainted with
meekness and piety and aims and grief, or
that me Of the sword and brass buttoned
jacket on the wall, who was acquainted with
war, deviltries, death, reckless daring, loves
young dreami Here happy thought strikes
me: to try on that soldiers jacket and buckle
on again that sword. am going to get into
that jacket, so faded, so small for me now;
am going to buckle on that sword, If it
does compel crowding, bad language, rebel
lion, pains, and being carried off the field
swooning, as some ladies are betimes, because
Of tho uproar and rage Of tho incommoded
guests within. Well, it happened on this wise
that found myself shivering on the banks
of the Rappahannock on Christmas Day,
1862, enlisted for three years or during the
war food for yillainous saltpeter.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

The snow was falling in :,rc;.; ~ iIa':":
and lay thick upon the pavement, ::rl she
bent hcforo the wind as Shc made what haste
she could. As she walked along she wondered
for q moment at the holiday aspect of Tho
street, and then she suddenly remembered,
with great rarg, that it vas Christmas
Eve, and two sudden tears rolled from her
eyes and trirklcd Slow down lie: cold checks.
Everybody She net, even in that poor loca-
ton, seemed to have something in their hands
toys, cheap and tawtry, it Is true, but sill
something TO briug Joy TO o cllilds Lcart-but
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

DaT. Lei l.s all touch elbows and share with
or nciSiLor who needs Is i:oSt. Then make
a truce with enemies, with cyt:c, with fears,
will. tears aml sorrow, and !c. joy I,c unron-
fined Oh Christmas Day. Lr: j,:%:''| soften
into nrrcy. Let nos hIir ln!r!c" into wrong,
but Lu t,,:E.r..iny;l iitu love. Ltt ;.nScl
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
CHRISTMAS CAROL

There's story olden, golden,
Laden with the sweetest peace, -;
Of stranger in a manger, ~
Couched on autumn's rich increase,
ROBBED not in sable, for stable, HE$l
With its rude end dust clad walls, 4
Formed shelter, where did sweter fN3
Cattle in their stihed stalls.
Then from heavens azure riven,
Elazed star Of radiance bright;
Glorious, victorious,
1t palcd the other stars Of night.
Then it glimmercd. cleaned and shimmered,
Der the town of Bethlehem;
And brighter, nearer, richer, clearer,
Burned the star of glory then.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

Above the stables pointed gables
Did that star of heaven stand;
While adoring, wealth outpouring,
Knelt the men from Judah's land. ,:
Softly saying, mid their praying,
While their eyes with tears were dim,
From afar we've seen his star,
And have come TO worship himl
Then came winging, sweetly singing,
Hosts on hosts Of cherubim,
"Glory, glory, hear the story!
Peace on earth, good will to menw
% H
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
ON THE RAPPAHANN0CK.
CHRISTMAS DAY, 1862.

CHRISTMAS DAY, IoOS.
Ey John T. Paxton, Private, Company G, 10th
Pennsylvania Volunteers.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

"All right; you shall have some Of our
coffee and sugar and pork. Boys, find the
The Indianapolis journal., 1887-07-22
CONDITION OF TIE MARKETS
Wheat Easier and Lower, Owing TO q
Scarcity Of Orders from the Outside.
Corn Opens at Lower Quotations, but Plenty
of Buyers Are Found and Reaction Fol-
lows-Provisions Weak and Unsettled.
MONEY, BONDS AND STOCKS.

The "BulI" Feeling Prsdominates, and the
Market Closes Quiet aud stroag.
NEW YORK, July 2L-Money on call was
easy at 4054 per closing offered at 4
Prime mercantile paper, 81 a per cent
Sterling exchange was quiet and unchanged.
The total sales of stocks to-day l58,387
shares, including the following: Delaware.
Lackawanna g. Western, To- l25; Erie, 4,285; Lake
Shore $780, Louisville 81 Nashville, 10, 7Oo;
Northwestern, g. 250 Northern Pacific preferred,
6,137; Reading 2O.740; St. Paul. 16.970; St Paul
e. Omaha 1900; Union Pacific, 1l,22o; Western
Union, 1920.
This effect of the announcement or the true
status of the B. 90 O. deal was not such has
been expected though the feeling of expectancy
Is not vet aayed, as the argument is used that
smother syndicate will probably step into the
place of the which has been NEGOTIATING, as
the great property is still in the market Upon
the failure OF the negotiations the bears sold
the market, bat no stocks came out, and there
plenty of support at the figures.
The character OF the trading underwent
change, and the operations outside of the
purchases and sales by the traders amounted
10 little nothing, though the clique buying
early in the day quite noticeable. The gen
eral feeling was more pronounced on the pull
side, and points to buy were freely circulated
during the day, in response TO which the market
steadily gained strength. with free covering or
shorts" Western Union was the pivotal stock,
and, while needing all the support given early IN
ward the close there was some selling OF St.
Paul by London. The graugers were strong on
the favorable crop reports Louisville 81 Nash
vile was stronger under the reaction from the
yellow fever scare. The general list was dull and
DISPLAYED little feature There a very
weak opening the declines from yesterdays
final figures ranging up to II per cent. in West
ern Union but the weakness was shorr-lived.
prices advancing Immediately, and by the end
of the first half hour the opening losses had gen
orally beer recovered. The animation dis
PLAYED in the early dealings then disappeared.
and dullness again reigned, while although the
general tone of the market remained firm. there
was no progress OF i'm Importance made until the last
hour, when more decided strength was shown.
and the close. though quiet, was strong at the
best figures reached. Almost the entire list is
higher this evening, though advances are con-
fined to fractions. except in Jersey Central,
which rose l. and Omaha and Union Pacific,
i per cent each.
Railroad bonds were duller than usual, the
sales were $685. 900. Prices were steady to firm
throughout the day, and closing prices generally
are slightly higher.
Government bonds dull and rather
heavy
State bonds were neglected. Closing quota
tioDs were:
The Indianapolis journal., 1887-07-22
TRADE IN GENERAL.
Quotations at St. Louis, Philadelphia, Balti
more. Cincinnati and Other Points.

ST. LOUIS, July 21.--Flour steady and un-
but later became stronger and advanced le Sc be-
low yesterdays No. red cash, n SIC; July, II a
at 7I7sc; September. 73973isc, closing at 7sl2c;
October, 75075lsc, closing at 75lsc Corn Coz
august august ss sso W sepssber na eiosing
at 347ec Oats quiet bgt steady; cash ~ &c;
Rye none offered. Hay in strong demand; timothy,
$3.50 90; prairie old, SO. .000 11.OO; prairie,
new, ss.oo01oioO. Eg duh at &c; Butter un,
meal steady at So 90. Whisky steady at 81 .O5.
fs9SseRs sa qes Pork rFssuar
ders. s. 75c; long clears. z.S7 2c clear ribs. oOO@
loc; short & clears SO 1aci o. con 9
5000; short clears, 9.12la09 SOC. Hams steady
at Ii 014c Receipts-Flour, 5000 brs; wheat.
274 900; bu; corn q 600 bu; oats. So 900 bu rye,
1000 bu: barley, Shipments-Flour, 1000
brls; wheat, none; corn, 600 bu; oats, 1000 bu;
rye. 1, 600 bu; barley, 1000 bu.
PHILADELPHIA, July 21.--Flour steady, but
quiet. Wheat weak and lower; No. REQ, July. SOa4
oslo; August. S10Sl lac; September. $3.50 81 a9c
October. 83os Tee Corn-Spot barely steady; fu-
dull but rm No. mixed in grain depot. 4S12c.
No; mixed; and yellow, track and grain depot,
47047lsc; August 4714 047sac; September, AZ a
4sc; October, 4794sl9c. Oats.spot quiet; bright
quiet and shade weaker; No; 2 white July, 800
39lec; August 344034lsc; September, 340344c;
firm: creamery extra, I902Oc. Egg. fresh stock
steady and in fair demand; frsts IA le0 l5c. Other
articles unchanged Receipts-Flour. 500 brs;
wheat. IS 500 bu; corn 5 200 bu; IL. O0U bu.
Shipments-Wheat "a, 100 bu; corn, 6, 500 bu; oats
$500 bu.
BALTIMORE. July 21.-Wheas-Western easier
and quiet; No. winter red spot. SO5sc August.
S10S1 lac September, S21e a S212c October, S3 12D
$3.50. Corn-Western dull; mixed spot, Ash a
45asc; August. 45l20 1890; September, 1870
467sc. Oats steady and quiet; Western white. 81 %
39c; do mixed. 34O35c. Rye duh at 54059c.
Provisions steady and quiet Coffee, nominally
steady. Other articles unchanged. Receipts-Flour,
II, 696 brls: wheat. 135, 200 bu; corn, $500 bu
oats, 3,1OO bu; rye, 400 bu. Shipments
Flour /, 121 brls wheat. 10000 bu.
CINCINNATI. July 21--Wheat steady; No. 2
red. 73073l2c: receipts ID 600 bu; shipments.
5000 bu. Corn strong No. 2 mixed, 44c. Oats firm;
No 2 mixed. SOC. Rye dull, nominal; No. 2, SOC.
Pork quier: $1,000. Lard weaker, 6.3oc Bnlk
meats weaker; short ribs. S.1Oc. Bacon steady.
unchanged. Whisky steady; sales, S42 brls finished
goods on basis $l.O5. Butter firm Sugar steady.
TOLEDO, o., July 21.-Wheat steady; cash and
July SIC; August 75c; September. 761sc; October
77i4c; December, Soc Corn irregular lower; cash.
39c; September 4Oc. Oats quiet; August 27c
Receipts-Wheat 1OS.0OO bu; corn, 5000 bu.
Wheat, 226,O 900 bu; corn, 1000 bu;
oats, 1000 bu-
DETROIT. July 2I-Wheat-No 1 white cash
76c bid; Michigan red cash. 747sc; No. 2 red cash,
and July. 747sc; August, 7oc September. 7614c.
Corn, 40c. Oats-No. 2, 3Oalc; No. 2, white,
SAC. Recepts-Wheat, $4,000 bu; corn, none
oats, $500 bu.